December 13, 2007
The Honorable Bruno Barreiro
Chair, Miami-DadeCounty Commission
111 NW 1st Street, Suite 220
Miami, FL33128
Dear Mr. Chair:
As a concerned citizen and resident of Miami-DadeCounty, I am writing today to ask you to oppose the proposed changes to the county’s animal control ordinance. These changes are unnecessary, burdensome to responsible animal owners and breeders, and divert animal control officers from their primary function of keeping the community safe for both people and animals.
(Personalize here – tell about yourself as a dog owner, breeder and fancier. How many years have you been involved with dogs? What breeds have you owned or shown? Do you compete in any other activities with your dog – Obedience, Rally, Agility…Have any of your dogs achieved a Championship? Won a prestigious award?
Breeders - Details the steps you take when preparing to breed/whelp a litter – applicable health testing, evaluation of breeding stock, training, etc…How do you work with puppy purchasers to ensure they will be responsible owners? Do you encourage CGC or obedience training? Do you remain in contact with the new owners?)
Florida state law defines a “pet dealer” as anyone who sells more than 2 litters or 20 dogs per year, whichever is greater. There is no compelling reason to license breeders who fall below the state pet dealer threshold, so there is no real need for a hobby breeder license. Pet dealers are required to adhere to Florida’s pet lemon law and having those definitions be consistent at both the state and local level will encourage compliance and benefit the pet buying public. A hobby breeder license is simply a burden to local responsible breeders and will be an additional program for animal control to administer within their existing limited resources.
I am additionally concerned that the fees proposed by the ordinance are not available for the public to review. The portion of the ordinance which would require hobby breeders to allow animal control entrance to their property on the basis of an unsubstantiated and possibly anonymous complaint is also unfair.Hobby breeders, kennels and pet dealers should be provided the same due process rights as any other citizen and animal control should be required to have a warrant or reasonable to enter on to their private property.
The arbitrary limit on the number of dogs residents are allowed to own based on the acreage of their lot is unreasonable. Limit laws are easily evaded, difficult to enforce and they fail to address the heart of animal control problems—irresponsible ownership. There is no scientific basis or justification to support the need for a certain amount of space per animal.The ordinance does not take into consideration the wide variety of space and exercise needs between different breeds.
Effective implementation of existing leash and nuisance laws, rather than passage of new burdensome regulation, would prevent pet owners from allowing their animals to run loose or become nuisances, while clean-up ordinances would require owners to take responsibility for their pets. These measures should apply equally to all pet owners, regardless of how many animals they own.
The ordinance would also limit the activities of many legitimate and effective breed rescues. Due to tax and filing requirements, not all these groups choose to incorporate as a 501(c)(3), but they are still reputable and responsible groups. Refusing to allow these organizations to work with local shelters will only increase the number of dogs in shelters and will eliminate the opportunity for these experienced groups to foster and re-home these animals.
I respectfully ask that you oppose this ordinance and bring relevant stakeholders together to discuss reasonable, enforceable and effective changes to our animal control ordinance.
Sincerely,
John Smith
123 Main Street
Miami, FL
cc:Members of the Miami-Dade County Commission